This mix is designed to give a good ground cover and display from May to August and is made up of the varieties found naturally on the meadows at Goren Farm. It is designed to be sown into existing grass or into a newly prepared seedbed. Some of these species can be slow to germinate and flower so patience is key. we would expect 3 years as a good duration of species sown by seed to be developing in a meadow and a further 3 years to see a noticeable spread. In Bare soil in spring, we would advise sowing a mix with corn field annuals in, Our premium mix.
Importantly this mix contains a good proportion of yellow rattle seed which will assist the flowers to get established in early summer by reducing the vigour of the grasses. However the yellow rattle needs to overwinter germinate.
Contains 36+species of flowers: 5% Yellow Rattle, Knapweed, Cat's-ear, Rough Hawkbit, Ribwort Plantain, Wild Red &White Clover, Meadow Bulbous Buttercup, Red Sorrel, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common Spotted Orchid, Field Forget-me-not. Grass and Meadow VetchlingCommon & Bush vetch, Lady's bedstraw, Black Medic, Selfheal, Pignut, Betony,Cowslip,Wild Carrot, Meadow Cranesbill,Yarrow. Goats beard, Tormentil,Ox-eye Daisy,Smooth hawk weed, corn poppy. +Micro seeding, 1%: Perforated leaf st John's wort, Devil's Bit Scabious, Ragged Robin,Musk Mallow Snakeshead Fritillary. Campion,speedwell germander, small quantities added to the mix to promote biodiversity through natural reseeding over time. species in italics have been reduced due to shortage. 03/21 *contains a small amount of grasses as harvested from our meadows<2%.
6 speciesof Corn Field Annuals :corn, poppy, flower, marigold, cockle, camomile: These species are best suited for sowing into a seed bed with no grass as they provided a cover or nurse crop for the perennial flowers in the first season. it is important to sow the mix too thickly as they will have the opposite effect if over sown. As the grasses get established these species of corn field annuals will peter out.
12 species of grass: Smooth stalked meadow25%, Sweet vernal3%, Quaking, 1% Crested Dogstail 6%, Meadow foxtail, 3%, Common Bent 8%. Smaller catstail, 4% Fescues: chewing25% and sheep 25%.: a selection of grasses chosen for their slow growing habit, visual interest and robust ness against heavy rain and wind. best sown at the same time as a seed mix although can be added into grass at any time. New meadows sown into existing grass may benefit from additional grass species as often more courser grass will often reduce over time through continued cutting and reduction in soil fertility.
Sowing Rate:
This is the Maximum Sowing rate and can be reduced 10 times if need be as the seeds will spread. However, some species will spread very rapidly such as Yellow Rattle whilst things like betony cowslip and orchids will take 5 years to start to spread prolifically. 5-10g/m2 or 16kg/acre. 40kg/ha
NB. rates can be varied to account for local conditions, bare seedbed and well dry soils may benefit from higher seed rates.
recommended additional species, vipers bugloss, Sainfoin can be ordered separately, corky fruited water dropwort is suggested for sites within its geographic distribution, east Devon, Somerset, Hampshire Wiltshire and Somerset or if it occurs locally.
General growth height 30-60cm.
NB. rates can be varied to account for local conditions, bare seedbed and well dry soils may benefit from higher seed rates.